QuestionHi Howard, my '76 B that sat for 10 years is THIS close to starting. I fixed carburetor leaks and flooding, reconditioned and adjusted the points, and now I'm getting both fuel and spark to the cylinders. When I crank it, I occasionally hear a cylinder fire, but usually not. I smell plenty of uncombusted fuel at the exhaust. How can I tell if the problem is mixture, ignition timing, spark strength, etc?
Thanks,
Billy
AnswerHi Billy,
At the MG dealerships I worked at, we would at times receive cars that had sat for some time and to get one to run we had to follow a procedure.
First drain all the old gas out of the tank and lines, Then confirm fuel pressure at the carb. (1.5 to 2 PSI)
Clean the carburetor and inspect the float level and the diaphragm.
Run a compression test. (135 to 170 PSI) (throttle open and at least 4 or 5 revolutions)
Check for ignition and set the timing to specs.
Adjust the valve clearance (.012") (the books are wrong)
A fresh charged or new battery.
With that it should start right up if the choke is working. (many didn't)
If you have a car that does not start you need to look at the plugs after trying several times to see if it is getting the plugs wet. If the plugs are wet, you either have a weak or no ignition or it is out of time or the compression is too low.
Connect a vacuum gauge to the manifold vacuum port and note cranking vacuum (throttle closed). If the plugs are dry you either have no fuel available to the jet or you have no manifold vacuum.
Even though you have done some of the necessary items, you have not completed all that should be done.
Let me know,
Howard
